While Microsoft has not yet issued a formal statement regarding rumours of a new operating system referred to Windows build 9364 but also known as Windows Blue, tech forum site WinSupersite.com reports it has had some hands-on experience with several features found in what could be the leaked alpha-build of the OS.
Here’s a sneak peek at those features:
1) Half screen snapping – Windows 8 allows users snap an app to the side of the screen and run another one beside it. This multitasking feature is not available to iOS or Android. However, Windows 8 affords 75 per cent of the screen to the primary app and relegated the second app to only 25 per cent of the screen. Windows Blue appears to have a 50/50 option while retaining the old 75/25 split.
2) Expanded PC setting options – Many users complain about how Windows 8 splits crucial setting options between the traditional desktop Control Panel and the newer PC Settings found in Charm. Windows Blue expands the modern PC Setting to now contain many of the options hidden in the old Control Panel.
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3) Better SkyDrive capability. The SkyDrive apps in Windows 8 can only access files previously stored in the users SkyDrive. It cannot sync new files to the cloud. This may change with Windows Blue, according to WinSupersite.com which reports spying an additional File option on the SkyDrive app.
4) IE 11 – Internet Explorer 11 appears to have been added to Windows Blue. Options (still not operational) on the menu bar appear to indicate that IE 11 could sync with SkyDrive.
5) New apps – Watch out for the possible appearance of new apps on the Windows Blue Start screen. Some apps spotted are: Alarms, Calculate, Sound Recorder and Movie Moments
6) Live Tile size options – Windows 8 has two basic Live Tile size options: medium-sized square; or larger rectangular tile version. Windows Blue offers two more size options: A smaller square about a quarter of the size of the medium Tile; and a giant Tile about twice the size of the Windows 8 rectangular Tile.
7) Tile lock feature – It’s very easy to accidentally move a Live Tile to a new location in the Windows 8 Start screen. With Windows Blue, users can’t rearrange Live Tiles without doing a right click on the empty portion of the desktop and then click on a Customize button.
8) New gestures – Windows Blue has new gesture controls, according to Computerworld.com. Users can swipe up from the bottom of the Start screen to reveal all installed apps. Swiping upwards from the bottom of the desktop also reveals a hidden app bar which contains the app snapping tool and projector options.
9) Easy personalization – It’s easier to change the look of the user interface in Windows Blue because the Personalization option appears in the Settings level in Charm not buried under submenus as it is in Windows 8.
10) Screenshot sharing-Windows Blue allows users to share a screenshot of the app they working in.